World Orders, Old and New

by Noam Chomsky

Book Overview

The author takes on the post-Cold War world, including the Gulf War, the Clinton Administration, and the Israeli-Palestinian question in a critique of Western government that focuses on the powerless, power-hungry, and power-mongers.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0231101562
• ISBN13: 9780231101561
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Length: 311 Pages
• Weight: 1.37 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Authoritative work on United State's imperialism

Aside from virtually predicting the Colombian and Middle East conflicts the United State's currently finds itself embroiled, Chomsky's World Orders Old and New offers a vast array of scholarly documentation to prove his over riding, and stunningly accurate thesis: American foreign policy is embarked upon for the benefit of the transnational corporations and wealthy Wall Street investors. The State Department, Pentagon, CIA and corporate owned media are their tools and propaganda apparatus to dominate the world's land, labor and resources. The naivete of Chomsky's critics simply astounds me. It's as if they do not want to believe or acknowledge the pink elephant that is in the room. For some it seems they simply refuse to disbelieve the ridiculous fairy tales they were taught in grade school and by rightwing radio about the well intentioned United States' government and its interventions abroad. World Orders Old and New is a fantastic work that's filled with obscure references to sensational sources along with references from mainstream sources that are often buried beneath the stories about Clinton's sex life and O.J.'s homicidal rampage. Moreover, Chomsky fills the book with quotes from our leaders that are hard to believe but impossible to ignore. Chomsky digs deep and unearths the quotes from old State Department flacks, which will leave you awed in there audacity. In World Orders Old and New, Chomsky also touches upon the economic trends that have befallen 70% of the American domestic workforce. Primarily the fact that the Fortune 500 and unfair labor laws (dramatically favoring management) have assaulted American workers, drastically reducing their the power to effectively organize strong unions. He vividly points out that wages for the typical U.S. worker have been on a steady decline since the early 1970s and that the number one cause for this is the business world's virtual destruction of unions -- the one avenue in which working people can have a say in their livelihoods. The last chapter gives a detailed analysis of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. Actually, as Chomsky demonstrates, that's somewhat of an inaccurate way to label the Mideast conflict. As World Orders Old and New so accurately points out, it should be considered the Israeli lawlessness and brutality campaign backed by billions of dollars in U.S. military and economic aid. Chomsky simply gives one the proof that Israel can get away with committing just about any human rights violation while at most the U.S. media will critize the Zionist state in the lightest way possible. If one has never read Noam Chomsky, they should do themselves a favor and pick up World Orders Old and New, it will help them to understand why much of the international community holds the U.S. in contempt. The common citizens of the U.S. deserve better than what their current leaders are giving them. Chomsky's book will go a long way in helping others recognize the pink elephant sitting in

The more things change,the more they stay the same.

The above could summarize Chomsky's book.The end of the Cold War should have brought big changes in foreign policy, but didn't because the Cold War was a front for superpower agression(mostly the U.S.'s),not so much a Soviet threat. Chomsky is armed(as usual) to the teeth with evidence and a cutting sarcasm, which together sear in his point. By giving a fresh interpretation of U.S. foreign policy based on evidence from a true variety of sources, he manages to shed some light on real policy, and to debunk governmental/elitist propaganda. His estimation of the goals of U.S. foreign policy is:get as much(influence,business opportunities for corporations)without losing too much(military casualties, public concern/attention,dollars,etc). This book is for people who base their views on evidence and NOT on what whatever someone tells them.

One of Chomsky's most fascinating books

When Chomsky came to speak in Oxford recently, several hundred people were turned away because the Sheldonian Theatre where he spoke was packed full to capacity. I have still not yet seen him in person, but fortunately he has published a wide variety of books.Of the handful of Chomsky books that I have read, this is the one I've recommended most to other people. It contains a fascinating retelling of the history of American foreign relations since the second world war. Even for those who disagree, it is vital to come to grips with the arguments it presents.It would be an especially helpful antidote for those who think that all truth springs from the economics textbook (you know who you are!)Chomsky emphasises historical and political facts that we are likely to find uncomfortable. Some of things he has said have made me think, "He can't be right, can he?" But then despite my diligent searching of anti-Chomsky web pages (and, indeed, this reviews section!) I have yet to find any convincing rebuttals of his arguments. Most of the time, his detractors seem to focus on merely attacking him and misrepresenting his views, which is a good sign that there is probably a lot of truth in what he (Chomsky) is saying.Yes, there is something of a conspiracy theorist on the surface of Chomsky. But underneath there is a surprising amount of evidence and logical argumentation. I think part of the genius of Chomsky's view of the world is that it DOESN'T actually take some far-fetched underground conspiracy, but merely the normal operation of the capitalist world system to bring about the situation we have found ourselves in.Chomsky's analysis of "world orders" is not based on some kind of elaborate fantasy, but largely well documented recent history and political science. One doesn't have to be radical political activist to appreciate the unique perspective that Chomsky has to offer.I think that this book is a engaging and worthwhile introduction to Chomsky's thinking from a more historical point of view.

Excellent - buy it immediately!

When it comes to analysing how the world is really run, very people can beat Chomsky. His work is brilliant, rigorously sourced and meticulously strips away the lies and propaganda that characterises the "New World Order" and its advocates. I find it laughable that a reviewer below critiques Chomsky for not having a political science background. Well mate, I'm doing a DPhil in International Relations and I can assure you that Chomsky is very well respected. Not of course by the extreme right who defend to the hilt the United States foreign policy, or Israel's behaviour, but by thinking people who aspire to a better world. The comments about Chomsky's "defence" of Robert faurisson are way off beam - they've been comprehensively refuted not only by Chomsky himself but also by journalists such as Christopher Hitchens. I'm surprised the reviewer below is ignorant of such facts. Aside from this, buy this book - it is one of the most important works on global politics to emerge in the post-Cold War era.

One of the best books of this century.

Few other people have sharply analysed the history of capitalism the way Chomsky has. In this volume, he savages the New World Order, by first analysing Western hypocrisy with regard to Iraq in the Gulf slaughter, and then takes a closer look at the Cold War, (with the fanatical document NSC 68 coming under close scrutiny.) Then he analyzes and rips apart common notions regarding the political-economic system by an appeal to the facts. At the end, he sharply dissects the Middle East 'peace process' (which is a joke now), and indicates that it is nothing other than the triumph of Israel and the US over the PLO, (too true.) His book is a marvellous argument in favour of three conclusions: 'International Law is a fraud', 'The economic system is a catastrophic failure' and 'The New World Order is much like the Old' He also highlights the intellectual community's complicity in all this. Although I do not share Chomsky's view regarding the Russian Revolution and Stalin, I must nonetheless recommend this book to every free-thinking man who wishes to liberate himself from the propaganda of the bourgeois press.